Tom Quayle will be the new coach of the Australian Bushrangers. The Bushrangers is Australia’s development team for senior orienteers. Orienteering Australia is pleased that an athlete of Quayle’s calibre is taking on such a major role in high performance coaching. The Bushrangers will benefit from Quayle’s year of experience as a world-class orienteer, particularly in his specialist area of long-sighted planning, and major race preparation.

A persistent heel injury has put Quayle’s own orienteering career on hold since his 13th place in the Long Distance race at WOC 2005. Quayle has spent nearly a decade competing and training in Sweden and Norway. Amongst his achievements are two 4th placings at JWOC, a 13th and 14th placing in the Long Distance at WOC, and a 6th placing in the WOC relay.

The Bushrangers will compete in two test matches against New Zealand in 2006. The first will be in New Zealand from the 2nd to the 5th of June, the second in Queensland on the 19th and 20th of August. The Bushrangers team will be selected prior to the Easter round of NOL races.